Cesarean delivery, or cesarean section, is the surgical birth of an infant through incisions in the maternal abdominal wall and uterus, performed when vaginal delivery would pose unacceptable risk to mother or fetus or is not feasible. Indications include obstructed or failed labor, fetal distress, malpresentation, …
Cesarean delivery, or cesarean section, is the surgical birth of an infant through incisions in the maternal abdominal wall and uterus, performed when vaginal delivery would pose unacceptable risk to mother or fetus or is not feasible. Indications include obstructed or failed labor, fetal distress, malpresentation, placenta previa, prior uterine surgery, and certain maternal or fetal conditions requiring expedited or controlled delivery. The procedure may be planned or carried out as an emergency, and its safe performance depends on surgical skill, anesthesia, and perioperative care; in some settings it is undertaken by trained non-physician clinicians to extend access. Maternal and fetal outcomes are shaped by the urgency of the indication, the adequacy of antenatal care, and the available resources. Recognized complications include surgical-site infection, hemorrhage, and risks that accumulate across repeated cesareans, notably abnormal placentation such as placenta previa and accreta in women with a prior uterine scar. Determinants of cesarean rates and the factors associated with the decision to operate are important to obstetric quality and equity, since both unmet need and overuse carry harms. Related antenatal considerations, including anemia, gestational diabetes, and teenage pregnancy, influence delivery planning. Optimal practice balances timely surgical intervention against avoidance of unnecessary operative birth.
10 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 10 articles above have been cited 21 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Cesarean Delivery, linking to each citing work.